rugged Meaning & Definition
What Does Rugged Mean?
Rugged is an adjective that means having a rough uneven surface. It is also used to mean seamed with wrinkles and furrows.
Quick Facts About Rugged
| Part of speech | adjective |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈrə-gəd/ |
| Syllables | 2 |
| Synonyms | robust, hard and rough |
| Antonyms | delicate, nonhardy and soft |
| Comparative / superlative | more rugged, most rugged |
| Adverb | ruggedly |
Rugged Definition (Adjective)
- having a rough uneven surface : jagged
rugged mountains / the rugged surface of the moon
- seamed with wrinkles and furrows : weathered
- having rough but attractive features
rugged good looks
- presenting a severe test of ability, stamina, or resolution
a long and rugged winter / a rugged climb
- strongly built or constituted : robust
… those that survive are stalwart, rugged men …
- rough and strong in character
made of rugged material
- coarse, rude
His single swift glance took in the men, one after another. Annixter, rugged, crude, sitting awkwardly …
- austere, stern
Rugged, stern, puritanical, as were most of Boston's leaders …
- turbulent, stormy
rugged weather
- shaggy, hairy
Synonyms of Rugged
Antonyms of Rugged
Rugged in a Sentence
Please put sharp objects on the rugged shelf.
rugged mountains
the rugged surface of the moon
rugged good looks
a long and rugged winter
a rugged climb
… those that survive are stalwart, rugged men …
made of rugged material
His single swift glance took in the men, one after another. Annixter, rugged, crude, sitting awkwardly …
Rugged, stern, puritanical, as were most of Boston's leaders …
rugged weather
a rugged construction that survived for hundreds of years
the incredibly rugged conditions that the polar explorers faced
the warrior's rugged features frightened the child
a rugged athlete who's competing in weight lifting in the Olympics
rugged terrain that made for slow going
even more rugged than most ultramarathons, this one crosses a desert
New Hampshire's Mount Washington has some of the ruggedest weather in all of North America
the kind of rugged humor that men have traditionally enjoyed at stag parties
rugged mountains / the rugged surface of the moon
a long and rugged winter / a rugged climb
Word Forms & Grammar
rug·ged·ly adverb
rug·ged·ness noun
rugged
ruggeder
ruggedest
ruggedly
ruggedness
ruggednesses
rugged (comparative more rugged, superlative most rugged)
rugged (not comparable)
Words That Rhyme With Rugged
Origin of Rugged
Origin 1: Middle English, from Middle English *rug
Origin 2: From Middle English rugged, roggyd, ruggyd, derived from Old Norse rǫgg (“tuft, shagginess”), equivalent to rug (“rough, woollen material”) + -ed. Compare Old Swedish ruggoter (“wrinkled”), Swedish rugga (“to roughen”), Swedish ruggig (“shaggy”), Icelandic rögg (“shagginess”), Old Norse raggaðr (“tufted”), dialectal Danish raggad (“shaggy”).
Origin 3: From rug + -ed.
First Known Use
14th century
How to Pronounce Rugged
You say rugged as /ˈrə-gəd/. It has 2 syllables, with the main stress on the first syllable (rə).
Frequently Asked Questions About Rugged
What part of speech is rugged?
Rugged is an adjective.
What is another word for rugged?
Words with a similar meaning to rugged include robust, hard and rough. See the full list of rugged synonyms and antonyms.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of rugged?
The comparative form is more rugged and the superlative form is most rugged.